Kathy Marchione sworn in to 43rd State Senate District

New York State Senator-Elect Kathy Marchione (R,C-Halfmoon) was sworn-in by State Supreme Court Justice Ann Crowel,l with her husband Frank holding the family bible,during a ceremony on Thursday, December 27, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber located in the New York State Capitol in Albany, New York. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

New York State Senator-Elect Kathy Marchione (R,C-Halfmoon) was sworn-in by State Supreme Court Justice Ann Crowell during a ceremony on Thursday, December 27, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. in the Senate Chamber located in the New York State Capitol in Albany, New York. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

ALBANY -- Surrounded by family and Republican Party leaders, state Sen.-elect Kathy Marchione was sworn into office Friday, quoting from Bible verse and pledging to steer a staunchly conservative course over the next two years.

Her district represents much of Saratoga County.

Marchione reiterated her opposition to the gay marriage law pushed through the Legislature by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2011, as well as her support for gun rights.

"I think New York State has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation," she said after her speech, which spoke of the Newtown school massacre and the Webster firefighter sniper killings. "I don't believe that guns kill. I believe people do. I think we need to look at our mental health laws. ... I'm not in favor of any further stringent gun laws."

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Earlier, Marchione somberly began by noting the proximity of the ceremony in the ornate Senate chamber to the recent mass shootings of school children and volunteer firefighters. Marchione, the longtime Saratoga County Clerk, is a gun owner and NRA member.

"The happiness of this day -- and this holiday season -- being with family and friends, it shines against a sorrowful shadow from the recent tragedies in Newtown, Connecticut and Webster, New York," Marchione said, also mentioning "the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy that has hurt so many of our fellow New Yorkers."

"In times such as these, I turn to faith, family and friends," she added. "I find comfort in the words of Scripture, one passage from Psalms in particular: 'Joy cometh in the morning.' It is Scripture's reminder that each new morning brings the promise of a better day, the hope of renewal. These next two years, I will work hard to turn those words of renewal into deeds, and be a public servant -- a state senator worthy of your continued trust and confidence. I will be a state senator who stands up for what is right."

She said while the marriage equality law is now "the law of the land," she also believed "marriage is between one man and one woman."

She expressed support for initiative and referendum and said she will continue to support letting voters decide big issues.

Marchione upset Sen. Roy McDonald in a 43rd Senate District GOP primary that mostly revolved around his vote switch to support gay marriage. On Friday, she praised McDonald for his "years of honorable service" as an elected official.

She went on to easily defeat Democratic candidate Robin Andrews in the general election.